Last week, Playwright Jocelyn Bioh shared some news on her instagram:
That’s right… SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY is going to Broadway, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this news! The play has a very special place in Blackboard Plays history.
Ten years ago, on Monday, January 11, 2016, we gathered at our old home on 23rd street, the cell, for a feature reading of a new play by Jocelyn Bioh. We were excited to feature Jocelyn’s work and after a DM conversation and an email exchange in early November of 2015, settled on the date.
Looking back at the photos now, it’s incredible to see the collection of artists gathered, and the excitement the community had over Jocelyn’s work. This was back in the “Facebook Event RSVP via email” days. No Google form to capture. Each name that came in was marked down.
Founder, Garlia Cornelia Jones met the artists at the cell with her 18 month old in tow, opened the space and they rehearsed in the afternoon before the 7:30pm reading began.
It was a very packed house!
The company featured:
(in alphabetical order)
Ngozi Anyanwu
Brittany Bellizeare
MaameYaa Boafo
Jessica Frances Dukes
Giselle Gant
Mandi Masden
Heather Alicia Simms
Mirirai Sithole
Just let those names sink in. You can find the artists on Broadway, off Broadway, on television and in films. We’re honored to be connected to such brilliance and history. If the photos say anything, we’re pretty sure you can feel the energy in that room. It was an incredible reading, and the beginning of something really special.
Since that Blackboard reading on a cold January evening, Jocelyn’s play has gone on to have more than 75 productions. It had a world premiere in October of 2017 at MCC, then a successful run until 2018 at MCC and Center Theatre Group. During the Summer of 2023, its U.K. premiere was at London’s Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. PLUS: it won the 2018 Lortel Award for Best Play and three Drama Desk Award nominations! Did we miss anything?? What. a. journey.
We’re proud to have played a tiny part, and cannot wait for what’s next! We will be following this production closely and sharing updates as SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY makes its way to Broadway in September of 2026 at Manhattan Theatre Club. The production will be directed by Whitney White, a trailblazing multi-hyphenate artist that also directed Jocelyn’s previous Broadway hit, “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding”.
